iPhone 11 SIM Card Reader Replacement

Written By: Jeff Suovanen

Comments: 18

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

The iPhone 11’s SIM card reader is modular and can be replaced separately from the logic board. If you’re having issues with your SIM card or cellular network connection, replacing the SIM reader may resolve the problem.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.
Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.
Remove the two 6.7 mm-long pentalobe screws at the bottom edge of the iPhone.
Opening the iPhone's display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

the right screws wouldn’t come off

Yusef San Inocencio - 19/04/21

Hello guys, I still haven't found away to power off the iphone without using the screen. Cheers!

danielaguirre93 -

You can try this.

Quickly Press and release the volume up button.

then Quickly Press and release the volume down button.

then press and hold the power button and wait until it turns off.

worked for me :D

Benóný Egilson -

Step 2

Heating the lower edge of the iPhone helps soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute.

Step 3

The next two steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down two steps for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Pull the blue handle towards the hinge to disengage opening mode.
Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone—one on the front, and one on the back.
Push down on the cups to apply suction to the desired area.
If you find that the surface of your device is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use packing tape to create a grippier surface.

Step 4

Push the blue handle away from the hinge to engage opening mode.
Turn the handle clockwise until you see the cups start to stretch.
Make sure the suction cups remain aligned to each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.
Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.
Insert an opening pick under the screen when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle clockwise half a turn.
Don't crank more than a half a turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.
Skip the next two steps.

where do i get this from g

Sami Pala -

Here: iSclack

Athanasius Pernath - 02/12/22

Step 5

If you're using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the curved portion of the glass.
If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may help the suction cup to stick. Alternatively, you can use very sticky tape instead of the suction cup. Or if all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Step 6

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

This turned out to be the most difficult part for me. My old ifixit suction cup didn't suck hard enough to generate enough force to pry the display from the case. I ended up applying heat at least a dozen times, and I had to pull up on the suction cup forcefully over and over and over while repositioning it several times. I finally had success inserting my pick into the tiny gap after 30 or so rapid tugs on the suction cup.

matthew r -

Step 7

Slide the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of the iPhone, slicing through the adhesive holding the display in place.
Don't insert the opening pick too far into the iPhone, or you may cause damage to internal components.

Step 8

Re-insert your pick at the bottom edge of the iPhone, and slide it up the right side to continue separating the adhesive.
Don't insert the pick very far, or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone. Insert it only a few millimeters, or about the width of the display bezel.

Step 9

The top edge of the display is secured with both glue and clips.
Gently pull the right edge of the display down slightly (in the direction of the Lightning port).
Insert your pick into the top-right corner of the phone.

Step 10

Continue pulling the display down (toward the Lightning port) as needed in order to make a gap large enough for the pick.
Slide the pick to the top left corner and cut any remaining adhesive securing the display.
Again, don't insert the pick more than a few millimeters—about the width of the display bezel—or you may damage the Face ID sensor array.

Step 11

Pull the small nub on the suction cup to detach it from the front panel.

azertuiopsdk

le français -

Step 12

Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.
Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board.
Prop the display up against something sturdy.
During reassembly, lay the display in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the display down. If it doesn't click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the display and make sure they aren't bent.

Step 13

To access the screws in the following step, tilt the display by slightly lifting its lower edge.
Be careful not to strain or tear the display cables.

Step 14

Use a Y000 driver to remove the three 1.1 mm-long screws securing the battery connector bracket.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your iPhone and test all functions before you seal the display in place. Be sure to power your iPhone back down completely before you continue working.

During reassembly, I had to connect my phone to the charger before it would power up.

Austin Culberson -

Step 15

Remove the bracket.

Step 16

Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.
Try not to damage the black silicone seal surrounding this and other board connections. These seals provide extra protection against water and dust intrusion.
Bend the connector slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally contacting the socket.

Step 17

Use a Y000 driver to remove the five 1.1 mm screws securing the logic board cover bracket.

Step 18

Remove the bracket.

Step 19

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the LCD panel cable connector.
Disconnect the digitizer connector next to it.

Step 20

Use the point of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector.

Step 21

Remove the display assembly.
During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the waterproof adhesive around the edges of the display.

After this step its probably a good idea to test the new screen (you dont have to plug in the front camera assembly)

Richard Kraus - 16/04/21

Not a technician, so correct me if I'm wrong: I think that it's at this step of reassembly (before you reattach the screen) that you apply waterproof glue, if you have it.

Athanasius Pernath -

Step 22

Use a spudger or a fingernail to pry up and disconnect the flex cable for the Lightning connector assembly.

Step 23

Remove the three Phillips screws surrounding the SIM card reader:
One 1.5 mm screw
One 1.9 mm screw
One 1.6 mm screw securing a grounding bracket
Removing the grounding bracket secured by the final screw.

Step 24

Use a standoff driver to remove the 3.1 mm screw securing the SIM card reader connector bracket.
In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn't slip and damage nearby components.

Step 25

Remove the SIM reader's connector bracket.

Step 26

While gently lifting the Lightning connector flex cable out of the way, use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the SIM card reader flex cable.

Step 27

Use the point of a spudger to push the SIM eject plunger out towards the edge of the phone.

Step 28

Lift the SIM card reader and slide it toward the outside edge of the iPhone.
Remove the SIM card reader.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPhone 11 Answers community for help.

Author

Jeff Suovanen

Member since: 06/08/13

406808 Reputation

8 comments

Puedo cambiar una single SIM tray por una dual SIM tray?

Gracias

Overth Castellanos - 10/04/21

Helpful guide as always! I will note, I get a “SIM Failure” message after completing this repair.. It works properly but the message pops up (multiple times) on a reboot. Potentially a low quality part? I’ve only done this once so I can’t say if this is a common issue.

cheers!

Andrew - 06/05/21

Hello,

It could be a low quality part, if you can found, try with a genuine parts, maybe removed from a broken iPhone.

Cheers :)

jacopo - 06/05/21

can I change a single SIM card reader for a dual SIM card reader on my iPhone 11?

josealejandro94 -

We haven’t tested this yet (we will!) but internet sources seem to point towards yes!

Arthur Shi -

I have done this successfully also. Thank you for your guide.

Now, I am planning to do it on an iPhone 11 Pro. Is it possible?

Dennis Capulong - 14/01/22

Why does my iphone 11 pro max turn off after sim slot replamcemnt

Dulce Pacheco -

Hello..is there a connection if my sim reader is broken,i also cannot activated my iphone 11?

Romero Kuduro -